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Sanitary surveying
When visiting water-supply schemes, it is usually possible to spot any faults and deficiencies that could lead
to the pollution of potable water. Sanitary surveying is an inspection technique that records such visible
problems, enabling fieldworkers to assess the likely quality of the water, relative to other sources. Figure 1
shows a woman collecting water from a stream which could be polluted by human excreta and urine, animal
and domestic wastes, soaps and detergents, pesticides and fertilisers.
Sanitary surveying formally identifies possible pollution problems which may threaten drinking-water quality at the
source, point of abstraction, treatment works, or distribution system. It relies on the inspection of physical installations
by an inspector or a team of inspectors.
Sanitary surveys can be carried out at any one of the three Distribution
points of a water-supply scheme (Figure 2): system
2
1. at the source and intake (to assess whether the quality
Treatment 3
of the raw water is at risk, and whether the abstraction
1 works
method is satisfactory);
3. at the distribution system (to assess whether the Figure 2. Sanitary survey inspection points
quality of the water is put at risk during distribution).
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Sanitary surveying
What is the purpose of a sanitary What data is needed for a sanitary
survey? survey?
In carrying out a sanitary survey, an inspector is identifying Certain basic data is needed to identify where sanitary
potential risks to the quality of the water — but she or he surveys are required:
should also take the opportunity to make constructive
criticism, leading to positive improvements. It should not be ■ population data for each town, village, and community;
an opportunity to indulge in destructive criticism. ■ information on water sources;
Undertaking a sanitary survey should also be considered: ■ summaries, from past studies, of data for water quality;
■ when new water sources are being developed, to ■ identification of sources for which no water-quality
assess the water quality and any treatment needs; data is available;
■ when comparing water sources for potential ■ summaries of health records on the incidence of
development; illnesses associated with water quality and sanitary
■ when contamination is suspected, to identify the likely conditions;
cause; ■ correlation between outbreaks of illnesses, and water
source and quality; and
■ when there is an epidemic of a water-borne illness, to
identify the likely cause; ■ any water-treatment methods being used.
■ to interpret results from water-quality analysis, to
establish how the water became contaminated;
Sanitary-risk factors
■ as a routine exercise, to monitor sanitary conditions;
During a sanitary survey, every insanitary situation that
or
could increase the risk of illness is termed a 'Sanitary-risk
■ when there are significant changes (such as heavy factor'. The importance of each risk cannot always be
rain or construction activity) which could affect water quantified — some risks may be more important than
sources. others; some may combine unfavourably — but each risk
needs to be eliminated if at all possible.
Sanitary surveying and water-quality analysis (either in a
laboratory or in the field) are complementary activities; they ■ Identified sanitary-risk factors are not ranked in order
are both important, and both have limitations (see Table 1). of priority; each risk receives equal weighting.
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Sanitary surveying
■ Important, potential sanitary-risk factors — there are Illustrated sanitary report forms
usually about ten — should be identified. Equal ranking
enables a sanitary-risk score (from 0 (no risk), to 10 Sanitary-survey reports should be done quickly, and be
(very high risk)) to be established, based on a sanitary simple and accurate. This is straightforward if illustrated
survey. The use of 10 sanitary-risk factors (a standard report forms are used. Figure 3 shows a report form for a
number) makes comparing different sources easy. By hand-dug well — and similar documents can be prepared
using 10 sanitary-risk factors for each source, some or adapted for other water sources and situations.
risks may be omitted from lists. Some risks may be on- On one side of the form there is a schematic illustration of the
site (local); others may be off-site (remote/distant). water source and abstraction point, the treatment process,
The following categories of sanitary-risk score are frequently or distribution system. Possible sanitary-risk factors are
used: identified by numbers, which correspond to the questions
opposite. Each question should be phrased in such a way
that a 'Yes' answer indicates a sanitary-risk factor.
Sanitary risk score Assessment of risk By using illustrated report forms, inspection teams can:
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Sanitary surveying
Inspector: ………………………………………
Note: Illustrations may not be comprehensive. They may need adaptation, and should not be a substitute for thinking!
Further reading
Lloyd, B. and Helmer, R., Surveillance of Drinking-Water Quality in Rural Areas, Longman, Harlow, 1991.
McNeill, D., Manual for the Appraisal of Rural Water Supplies, ODA, London, 1984.
Hofkes, E.H., (ed.), Small Community Water Supplies, IRC Technical Paper 18, IRC, The Hague, 1986.
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